Crib appliance for vehicles



July 28, 1936. D. SHOWALTER CRIB APPLIANCE FOR VEHICLES Filed June 27, 1934 FIG. 4

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Patented July CRIB APPLIANCE FOR VEECLES Donald L. Showalter, Huntington ork, Calif. Application June 2'7, 1934, Serial No. 732,635

11 Claims.

appliance for vehicles to convert a vehicle seat into a crib, and has as its primary object the provision of a wall structure adapted to be 5 extend in front of a from the forward edge thereof to form a closure across the front of the seat latter may be utilized as wardly demountably erected to vehicle seat to extend upwhereby the a crib or bed.

Another object is to provide a structure of the above character which is especially applicable for use in connection with a seat of automobile and especially with the rear seats of automobiles of the enclosed type. Another object structure which is is to provide adjustable to accommodate it a crib forming to vehicles and vehicle seats of various dimensions.

Another object is to provide a structure of the above character which is composed of a plurality of separable elements adapted to be disposed in a compact bundle when not in use, and which may be readily assembled and applied to a vehicle and easily removed therefrom.

Another object is to provide a the purpose specified which is light in weight,

and of substantial construction and when applied will produce a strong structure not liable to be accidentally displaced by the ordinary strains to which it might be subjected.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other obj subsequently appear, parts and in the combination, arrangement of parts ects and advantages as may construction and hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the structure as seen m front elevation showing it asapplied in connection with the rear seat of an automobile:

Fig. 2 is a view in section and elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 as seen in the direction as indicated by the arrows:

Fig. 3 is a detail in horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a detail clamp for efiecting 1: r in perspective illustrating a engagement of a standard with a window sill of the vehicle:

Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating a modified form of the clamp shown in Fig. 4:

Fig. 6 is a detail in elevation of the lower portion of a standard. Referring to the indicates generally compartment of an which compartment drawing more specifically A a fragmentary portion of a automobile or other vehicle embodies a floor I and side wall structure for the invention resides in the walls 8 and 9 each of which is fitted with a window iii having a sill ll.

The compartment is equipped with the usual cushion B which extends between the side walls 8 and 9 and is fitted with acushion back l2 in 5 the usual manner.

The present invention resides in a wall structure C adapted to be mounted in the vehicle compartment A to extend above the seat B at the forward edge of the latter. 1

As here shown the wall structure embodies a pair of tubular standards l5 and it which are designed to extend upwardly alongside the inner faces of the side walls 8 and 9 in front of and adjacent to the ends of the seat B with the lower 15 ends of the columns demountably seated in and engaged with socket members i! and i8 amxed to the floor l; the lower end of each of the standards being formed with an upwardly extending open ended slot 20 terminating in a downwardly 20 curved end portion 21! for effecting engagement with a pin 22 in the socket member whereby a bayonet joint connection is afforded between the standard and the sockets such as to securely hold the standard against being lifted from the socket 5 inadvertently, but which will permit ready detachment and reattachment of the standards relative to the sockets.

Connecting with each mediate its ends is a of the standards interbracket 23 particularly 30 shown in Figs. 4 and 5, which bracket may be of any suitable length, it being shown quite short in Fig. 4 and as considerably elongated in Fig. 5; the brackets being provided of such length as to accommodate them to the dimensions of a particular vehicle to which they are to be applied.

The outer end of the bracket 23 is formed with a sleeve 23 which slidably telescopes the standard and is adapted to be shifted to various positions longitudinally thereof and to be readily removed therefrom.

The other end of the bracket 23 is formed with a clamp member 25 adapted to seat upon the window ledge H and also to bear against the inner margins thereof and for which purpose the under side of the clamp member 25 is formed with walls 25 and 21 extending at right angles to each other with the wall 26 disposed to seat on the top of the sill H and the wall 21 to abut against the inner edge of the sill, as particularly shown in Fig. 4.

Revolubly carried by the clamp member 25 is a screw 28 having threaded engagement with a clamp member 29 formed to seat on the sill I3 and having a downtumedflange 30 engageable with 55 with a head 3| whereby it different lengths of the outer edge of the sill. The screw 23 is formed may be readily rotated to adjust the-clamp members 25 and 29 relative .to each other in effecting their engagement or disengagement with the sill 3.

A pair of horizontal rails 32 and 33 are provided to extend between the standards l I and I3 -in superposed relation to each other; the rail 32 constituting a top rail and connecting the upper portions of the standards, while the rail 33 connects the intermediate portion of the standards adjacent the forward edge of the seat B. The ends of the rails 32 and 33 are formed with sleeves 34 as particularly shown in Fig. 3 which sleeves slidably encircle the standards and are adjustable to various positions longitudinally thereof and are adapted to be removed therefrom. 1

- In order to accommodate the rails 32 and 33 to spacing between the standards l5 andlB, each of the rails is formed of telescopingsections 35 and 36 on the outer ends of which the sleeves 34 are carried.

As a means for enabling attachment of the sleeves 34 tov the standards at various points throughout the lengths of the latter, the standards are formed with a series of spaced openings 3 adapted to be engaged by spring pressed bolts formed on the sleeves 38 here shown as mounted in tubular stems 39 34, which stems extend into the ends of the rail sections 35 and 38 as particularly shown in- Fig. 3. The bolts 38 are formed with handles 40 projecting through slots 4| in the stems 39 and rail sections whereby the bolts may be retracted manually in opposition to springs 42 bearing between the inner ends of the bolts and end walls 43 on the tubular stems 39.

Extending between the: rails 32 carried thereby, is a flexible wall 44 formed of canvas or similar fabric which may be provided with openings or slots 45 for ventilation purposes: the wall 44 being formed with sleeves 46 and 41 at its upper and,lower margins through which the rails 32 and 33 slidably extend. An apron 48 connects with the lower margin of the wall 44 and is adapted to be extended over the seat B, and when so disposed forms a closure at 'the juncture of the bottom rail 33 with the forward edge of the seat -B such as to prevent small articles from rolling ofi the seat or being forced beneath the lower rail 33.

In the application and operation of the invention, to assemble the structure the sleeves 34 on the bottom rail 33 are firstengaged with the standards l5 and I6 whereupon the sleeves 24 on the brackets 23 are positioned on the standards, and then the sleeves 34 on the upper rail 32 are engaged with the standards, which assemblage may be done either before or after the lower ends of the standards are inserted in the sockets l1 and I8 and engaged by the pins '22 of the latter.

In most instances, however, it is desirable to first assemble the standards in their upright position in the sockets l1 and I8 and thereafter apply the rails and brackets. The rails 32 and 33 are initially disposed at any convenient points in the length of the standards, whereupon the brackets 23 are securedto I members 25 and 29 through the medium of the screws 28, thus securely supporting the standards in their upright position. Where the standards extend in front of the window III as shown in Fig. 2, a bracket 23 of short length may be employed as shown in Fig. 4, but where the vehicle is so constructed that the window is to either side of the standard then an elongated bracket is cmthe sill H by the clamp aosaoss and 33, and i thus assembling ployed as shown in standard and the window sill.

After securely fastening the standards in their upright position, the rails 32 and 33 are disposed with the rail abutting against or spaced slightly from the forward upper edge of the seat 13 with'the ends of the rail 33 connected to the' standards by the bolts 33 as before described, whereupon the upper rail 32 is engaged with the standards at such points as will preferably stretch the flexible wall 44 and draw it taut.

The apron 43 may then be positioned to extend over the top of the seat B as shown in Fig. 2, if so desired.

In thus mounting the wall structure the andards are preferably positioned so that they may be pressed-into the outer edge of the seat B which is yieldable in the form of cushions, and the lower rail 33 is likewise pressed into the seat thus making a tight connection with the forward upper edge of the seat and the wall structure. In forming the standards with the openings 31 the latter are arranged relative to the slots-20 and 2| so that when the end portions 2| of the slots are engaged with the pins 22 in the sockets l1 and I8 the openings 31 will be disposed to be engaged by the bolts 38 and when so engaged the standards will be locked against turning and thus will be securely held against withdrawal from the sockets I! and 8 while the structure is assembled.

The manner of demounting the structure is obvious. It will be seen that when the structure is demounted the standards and the brackets may ,be positioned between the rails 32 and 33 and the fabric of the flexible walls 44 wrapped therearound transportationor for packing away when not in use.

Manifestly where desired the upper rail 32 need not be disposed in its uppermost position and may be lowered to an intermediate position to rest on the sleeve 24 of the bracket 23 where a lower wall is desired; the flexible wall 44 being then folded either to hang downward in front of the seat B or to overlie on top of the latter. In some instances where it is not desired to demount the standards I and IE, but to take down the wall C, the upper rail 32 may be detached from the standards and the flexible wall 44 either folded back over the top of the seat B or extended downwardly in front of the seat.

' When erected, the wallst'ructure will convert the seat B into a crib which is especially suitable for use to accommodate infants or small children, and particularly as a bed, in which latter instance suitable bedding is applied over the seat B. However it is manifest that the space back of the wall C may be employed to confine packages or bundles and for various other purposes.

Fig. 5 to extend between the 1 since such seats are ordinarily the parts in a compact bundle for While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to'the exact details of construction and arrangement shown, but may employ such changes and modifications as occasion may require coming within the meaning and scope of, the appended seat, and means for fastening said wall structure at various heights on said standards.

2. A crib appliance for vehicle seats comprising a pair of standards, means for detachably mounting said standards adjacent the ends of a vehicle seat, a pair of spaced rails carried by said standards arranged with one of the rails extending adjacent the forward edge of the seat and with the other rail spaced therabove, means for fastening said rails independently of each other at various points on said standards, and a flexible wall connecting said rails adapted to be drawn taut by adjusting said rails relative to each other.

3. A crib appliance for vehicle seats comprising a pair of standards, means for mounting said standards adjacent the ends and front edge of a vehicle seat, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal rails extending between and carried by said standards and adjustable longitudinally thereof independent of each other, and a flexible wall carried by and extending between said rails.

4. A crib appliance for vehicle seats comprising a pair of standards, means for mounting said standards adjacent the ends and front edge of a vehicle seat, a pair of longitudinally adjustable vertically spaced horizontal rails extending between and carried by said standards and relatively adjustable vertically thereon, and a flexible wall carried by and extending between said rails.

5. A crib appliance for vehicle seats comprising a pair of standards, means for detachably connecting the lower ends of said standards to a vehicle floor, means for detachably connecting the upper portion of the standards in relation to the side walls of the vehicle, a pair of side rails extending between and carried by said standards,

said rails being spaced apart on said standards,

and a flexible wall extending between and carried by said rails.

6. In a crib attachment for vehicles, a pair of vertically spaced rails, means for supporting said rails, a flexible wall connecting said rails, means for mounting said supporting means adjacent the front edge of a vehicle seat, and a flexible apron connecting with said flexible wall at the lowermost of said rails adapted to be extended over the seat.

7. In a crib appliance for vehicle seats, a pair of rails each of which is formed of telescoping members, sleeves at the ends of said rails, standards encircled by said sleeves, means for detachably engaging said sleeves to said standards at various points throughout the lengths thereof,

and a flexible wall extending between and carried by said rails.

8. In a crib appliance for vehicle seats, a pair of rails each of which is formed of telescoping members, sleeves at the ends of said rails, standards encircled by said sleeves, means for detachw ably engaging said sleeves to said standards at various points throughout the lengths thereof, a flexible wall extending between and carried by said rails, sockets receiving the lower ends of said standards, and bayonet joints connecting said standards to said sockets, said fastening means between said rails and standards holding said standards against turning relative to said sockets.

9. In a crib attachment for vehicles, a pair of standards, means for attaching the lower ends of said standards to a vehicle floor, brackets engaging the intermediate portions of said standards, means for attaching said brackets relative to the side walls of the vehicle, and a wall demountably carried by said standards adapted to extend upwardly from the forward edges of a vehicle seat.

10. In a crib attachment for vehicles having a seat, side walls at the ends of the seat, and window sills in said side walls; a pair of standards arranged adjacent the ends of the seat, means for supporting the lower ends of said standards, means connecting said standards intermediate their ends to said window sills with the upper end portions of said standards protruding above said sills, a pair of rails extending between and carried by said standards on opposite sides of said sill connections, and a wall extending between and carried by said rails.

11. In a crib attachment for vehicles having a seat, side walls at the ends of the seat, and window sills in said side walls; a pair of standards arranged adjacent the ends of the seat, means for supporting the lower ends of said standards, means connecting said standards intermediate their ends to said window sills with the upper end portions of said standards protruding above said sills, a pair of rails extending between and carried by said standards on opposite sides of said sill connections, a wall extending between and carried by said rails, and means for detachably connecting said side rails independently of each other at various points on said standards.

DONALD L. SHOWAL'I'ER. 

